Sunday, March 31, 2013

About two years ago I was invited to a group on Facebook called 52 Books in 52 Weeks. Well, one thing you should know about me is that I love a challenge, especially when it deals with a topic I love. So, of course, I jumped on board right away. Even though I'm starting this blog in 2013, I can't pass up beginning it with a top ten list of books I have gotten lost in over the last year. They span from YA fantasy to non fiction to historical fiction and have a spattering of everything else in between.

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. Historical fiction set on an archeological dig with a very small amount of paranormal in the form of a ghost. I have loved all of her books but this is one of my favorites.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame Smith. I went into this book with doubts and ended up wishing it wasn't over. The way the author connected the history to the fantasy and made it seem completely plausible was amazing.

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand. Emotional story about Louis Zamperelli and his capture by the Japanese during WW2. I ended up looking up more about him on the Internet because his story was so profound.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Wow! Holocaust setting but told by the point of view of death himself. Very emotional and I teared up on several occasions. Considered a YA novel but very adult in subject matter.

The Physic Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. Present day witches learning about their past as a college student researches the Salem Witch Trials and finds a key to a book of spells.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. First book in a trilogy about a modern day witch who becomes involved with a vampire and they become embroiled in an adventure to find a book of spells. I became completely caught up in both the relationship and the drama of the story.

Divergent by Veronica Roth. Dysopian society. Geared towards young adults and gained popularity due to the success of the Hunger Games but I enjoyed it. I thought it was exciting and I really connected with the characters.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. A wife disappears and the husband looks more and more like the main suspect. This book is suspenseful, disturbing, and has a bunch of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until about three quarters of the way through.

The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie R. King. Delving into the mystery genre, I found this by accident and fell in love. If you love Sherlock Holmes but want a fresh perspective from a female point of view, this is the book for you. I have read all them and can't wait for more!

Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood. Also a mystery but more action/suspense based with a blossoming romance. If you like hot FBI agents, this is the first in the Buchanan Brothers series. Hard to put down.

Well, those were my favorites. I did read 53 books last year and really loved most of them but these are the standouts, the beginnings of great series books, and just books I found to be interesting and fun to read. On to 2013!